Marburg Virus Disease

Family

Filoviridae family

Filoviridae family

Natural host

Rousettus aegyptiacus

Rousettus aegyptiacus

Human to human transmission

Transmission to HCW

Transmission to HCW

Vaccine

No vaccine

No vaccine

Total cases

662

Total deaths

537

Mean CFR (%)

63%

Total countries

19

Total outbreaks

27

Latest events

2024

🌎 Worldwide geospatial distribution
Outbreak Cases Deaths CFR
2020's
United Republic of Tanzania (2023) 10 7 70%
Equatorial Guinea (2023) 41 36 88%
Ghana (2022) 4 3 75%
Guinea (2021) 2 2 100%
2010's
Uganda (2017) 4 4 100%
Uganda (2014) 2 2 100%
Uganda (2012) 16 5 31%
2000's
Netherlands (Kingdom of the) (2008) 2 2 100%
United States of America (2008) 2 1 50%
Uganda (2007) 5 3 60%
Angola (2005) 375 330 88%
1990's
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1998 to 2000) 155 129 83%
1980's
Kenya (1987) 2 2 100%
Kenya (1980) 3 2 67%
1970's
South Africa (1975) 4 2 50%
1960's
Serbia (1967) 3 1 33%
Germany (1967) 30 8 27%

Source: WHO.

Country Cases Deaths CFR
AFR
United Republic of Tanzania 10 7 70%
Equatorial Guinea 41 36 88%
Ghana 4 3 75%
Guinea 2 2 100%
Uganda 24 11 46%
Angola 375 330 88%
Democratic Republic of the Congo 155 129 83%
Kenya 4 3 75%
South Africa 4 2 50%
EUR
Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 2 2 100%
Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia 3 1 33%
Germany 30 8 27%
AMR
United States of America 2 1 50%

Source: WHO.

  • Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus (RAVV) of the species Orthomarburgvirus marburgense are the causative agents of Marburg virus disease (MVD). Both viruses are part of the Filoviridae family (filovirus).

  • MVD, formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The average MVD CFR is around 50%. CFR have varied from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks.

  • 🦇 Rousettus aegyptiacus, a fruit bat of the Pteropodidae family, is considered the natural host of Marburg virus. The virus is transmitted to 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 people from bats and spreads among humans through human-to-human transmission.

For more information, visit the WHO website.